Clutch for a coin controlled vending machine



June 21, 1955 .1-1. HANSEN, JR

CLUTCH FOR A com CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l n Pa? ml W a w\ w #0 Wi l p m n 6 W F W H 1 a l w w n w Z mmlnl I w w I 9. M o w 0 w w W o o o June 21, 1955 H. HANSEN, JR

CLUTCH FOR A COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 li #5 m Filed Nov. 10, 1951 INVENTOR. fiea e /l flazzse/g By /,/7/

ATTORNE June 21, 1955 e. H. HANSEN, JR 2,711,236

CLUTCH FOR A COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1.951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I a I Q 9 i Geo/ye flw g J1:

CLUTCH FOR A COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE George H. Hansen, Jr., Mission,

Vendo Company, Kansas City, Missouri Application November 10, 1951, Serial No. 255,827 8 Claims. (Cl. 192-17) Kans., assignor to The Mo., a corporation of This invention relates to vending machines of the kind disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,474,053, of June 21, 1949 (Elmer C. Johnson et al.), and has for its primary object the provision of improved control structure operable by the customer, through opening of an access door, to rotate an index plate and a magazine, step-bystep on insertion of one or more coins in payment for merchandise vendable through the opening made available by actuation of said door.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a control unit for governing rotation of the aforesaid magazine and guard plate within the vending machine cabinet, which unit includes novel mechanism to interconnect a drive shaft and a driven shaft upon inser tion of the purchase price of the merchandise to be vended, which interconnection is operable separately from the coin or coins rather than being connected thereby as in the case of the aforesaid patent.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a bottle vending machine, a reciprocable access door that is in turn connected with a rotatable pinion through the medium of an elongated rack, the pinion being connectable with a notched disc joined rigidly to a drive shaft through the medium of a.swingable latch that is actuated upon insertion of the coin by a potential cus tomer.

Another object hereof is to provide a control unit wherein the aforesaid latch is held at one end of its path of travel connecting a pair of rotatable members by means of an arcuate plate, the latch having a notch formed therein for receiving the plate and being automatically released as the rotatable members are moved'to one end of their paths of travel.

Another object hereof is to provide a control unit wherein the aforesaid latch is rendered releasablefor subsequent operations notwithstanding the possibility that the access door is open at the time of insertion of the coin.

Another important feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel electric circuit for the control unit so arranged as to avoid jackpotting by requiring a coin-control switch to return to its normal standby position before the rotatable members aforementioned, may be interconnected.

It is another object hereof to provide an electric circuit as aforesaid, that includes a stepping switch permitting use of the unit where a multitude of coins is required to purchase an article of merchandise and have the same vended from the machine.

Other objects include many important details of construction, all of which will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the control unit forming a part of multiple coin-controlled means for vending machines made pursuant to the present invention, with the case therefor entirely removed.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is arear elevational view of the control unit, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing that edgeof the unit opposite to Fig. 2. p

Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on irregular line VV of Fig. 2, looking in the direction, of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, vending machine such as disclosed in the aforesaid patent showing the control unit to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating one form of electrical control for the unit; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating another form of electrical control for the unit.

The control unit forming the subject matter of the present invention, and constituting an improvement over the control means ofthe aforesaid patent, is designed for use with a vending machine similar to said patent and illustrated in part by Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Cabinet 10 is provided with a main door 12, hingedly secured for access to the interior of the cabinet and particularly to a rotatable magazine carrying merchandise to be vended such as beverage bottles. 'Such magazine is provided with a rack 14 meshing with a pinion 16 connected through a train of gears 18, with a driven shaft 20, all disposed with the cabinet 10.

A small access door is swingably secured to the main, hingedly mounted door in said Patent No. 2,474,053, but according to the present invention, it is contemplated that such relatively small access door he vertically reciprocable on the door 12 and connected with a vertically reciprocable rack 22 that extends upwardly through a top wall 24 of the control unit 26. Unit 26 includes a rear wall 28 secured directly to innermost wall 30 of the door 12, together with a U-shaped plate 32 having wall 24 integral therewith and joined to the wall 28. Plate 32 and wall 28 of the unit 26, rotatably carry a drive shaft 34, shafts 20 and 34 being provided with interlocking lugs 36 and 38 respectively, capable of separating to permit opening and closing of the door 12.

A pair of discs 40 and 42 are carried by the shaft 34 between the plate 32 and the wall 28, plate 42 being in turn secured to a gear 44 that is rigidly mounted on the shaft 34. Disc 40 is rigidly secured to a pinion 46, disc 40 and pinion 46 both being rotatable on the shaft 34. As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, the gear 44 is in mesh with anindex or guard plate 48 within the door 12 and serving the same purpose as the guard plate illustrated in said Johnson, et ,al. patent. The pinion 46 is in mesh with rack 22 and in accordance with the present invention, insertion of a suitable coin or coins by the customer, operates to interconnect the pinion 46 with the disc 154 so that upward movement of the access door and accordingly, of the rack 22, operates to rotate the shafts 20 and degrees, which in turn imparts rotative movement to the rack 14 and the plate 48.

A bracket 50 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, connected to the rack 22, serves to join the reciprocable door with rack 22. A pair of outwardly extending radial cars 52 on the pinion 46, swingably carries a latch 54 having a notch 56 formed therein. The ,disc' 40 cut away to receive the ears 52 and the latch 54 as shown in Fig. 6, permits swinging movement of latch 54 toward and away from the disc 42 and into either of a pair of notches 58 and 60 formed in the. disc 42. It is notable in Fig. 5 of the drawings, that the disc 42 is not truly circular but comprises a pair of relatively offset semi- Patented June 21, 1 955 7 cross-sectional view through a in plan, parts being broken away 34 substantially is disposed within a substantially semi-circular slot 64' formed in the plate 32 concentric with shaft 34. Plate 32 also provided with a pair of diametrically opposed latch receiving openings 66 and 68, defining the opposite ends of the semi-circular slot 64.

Means for actuating the latch 54 to move the same to the innermost end of its path of travel within one of the notches 58 or 69, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. .6 of the drawings, includes an electromagnet 70, having a reciprocable core 72 pivotal-1y joined to a short link that is in turn pivotally secured to an arm 76. Core 72 is held biased toward the uppermost end of its path of travel'by a spring 78 joined to the arm 76. Arm 76 is pivotally secured by means of pin 80 to the ,plate 32, the latter also swingably mounting a finger 82 that partially overlaps the arm 76. Finger 82 is disposed beneath a lug 84, struck from the arm 76, and a spring 86 on the pin 80 is .providedwith crossed legs engaging the lug 84 and a similar :lng 88 on the finger :82. Spring 86 yieldably holds the finger 82 biased against the lug 84, finger 82 being disposed between the latch 54 and shaft 34, swings the latch 54 to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings upon energization of electromagnet 70 to retract core 72 downwardly against the action of spring 78.

A pawl 90, swingably carried 'by the wall '28 between plate 32 and wall 28, is held biased against the periphery of disc 42 by means of a spring 92. Pawl 90 normally engages the disc 42 within one of the notches 58 or 60 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, to hold the :disc 42 and accordingly, the shafts 34 and 20 against rotation clockwise, viewing Fig. 5.

A cam 94 on the pawl 90 is disposed within the path of travelof the latch 54 when the same is inthe dottedline position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and upon rotation of the pinion 46 as will hereinafter be made clear. I I

Another spring-loaded pawl 96 on the wall 28, engages the teeth of gear 44 to hold the :latter against rotation anti-clockwise, viewing Fig. 5.

A normally closed switch 98 secured to the unit 26 is provided with an actuating button 100, within .the path 'of travel-of a lateral extension 102 on an arm 104 swingably secured to the plate 32. Arm 104 #has an arcuate cam 106 near the uppermost end thereof within the .path of travel of-latch =54 when the same is rotated, alnd a spring 108 holds the arm i104 ibiased toward the s t 64.

Operation of the unit '26 may he more easily "understood after reference to the wiring diagram of Fig. '8, wherein is shown an electric circuit receiving .power through a transformer 110 coupled with lead lines .1 12 that are in turn connected with a source of electrical power not shown.

The machine is normally provided with a slug rejector not shown, which receives all coins inserted by the customers and accepted COiIlS'-8H13D8.t1flg'iff0!l1 'thfi rejector, engage -a switch :114, moving the same :from

a stationary contact 116 to a contactrpoint 3118.. .Such

movement of switch 114 energizes coil 120 iofta holding relay 122 through the following circuit:

From transformer 110 through line 124, switch 1 14, contact point 118, lines 126 and "128, coil -"120, line 130, normally closed'switch 98 aforementioned, and lines #132 and 134 to transformer 110.

Such energization of the coil 120, closes switch 136 to hold the relay 122 closed after-switch 114ireturnsFt0- the position illustrated in .Fig. -8, engaging contact 1-16 th'foiighthe following circuit:

From transformer 110, through -lines 124 and 138, switch 136, line 128, coil 120, line 130, switch 98 and lines 1'32 and 134, to transformer 110.

it is thus seen that the coin switch 114 must return to its normal position before electromagnet 70 is energized, thereby preventing the machine from jackpotting in case the coin switch 114 should fail and remain in the actuated position engaging contact point 118.

The coin rejector aforementioned, is provided conventionally with agate not shown, for blocking inserted coins or for deflecting the same to a coin-return chute. Such gate is operated through the medium of a solenoid 140 that is normally energized through the following circuit: I

From transformer 110, through line 124, switch 114, lines 142 and 144, normally'closed fSold-rout switch 146,

solenoid 140, line 150, stationary contact 152, swingable contact arm 154 and lines 156, 158 and 134 to transformer 110.

Switch 136 and arm .154 are ganged together for simultaneous movement and accordingly, when the coil 120 of relay 122 is energized, the arm 154 will move away from thecontact 152 into engagement with a stationary contact16tl to deenergize the solenoid 140, thereby closing thegateof the coin-reject mechanism. 7

While the vending machine hereof is in operation there.- fore, any coins subsequently inserted, will be deflected and returned to the customer. Similarly, structure is provided and not herein shown for operating switch 14.6

when the machine is sold out of merchandise, thereby deenergizing the solenoid 140 and causing the machine to reject coins inserted by a potential customer. With relay 122 thus held closed, and arm 154engaging contact 160., the electromagnet 70 is energized throughrthe following circuit:

From transformer 110, through :line 124, switch 114 contact 116., lines 142 and 162, electromagnet line 164, contact 160, .arrn 154 and :lines 15.6,..158 and 134 to transformer 110. U

Energization of the electromagnet 70 pulls the core 72 downwardly to swing arm 76 and finger 82 on pivot pin 80.. Upward movement of the finger82 swings the latch.

54 from the full-line position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, to the dotted-line position, through the uppermost opening 66 and into one of the notches 58 or 60 .of plate 42. Notch 56 .of latch .54 becomes aligned with the plate v32, and as soon as the customer shifts the access door upwardly, rack v22 likewise moves from the position shown inTFig. .l of the drawings in the :direction of the arrow illustrated .by Fig. 3. Rack 22, acting on the pin ion 46, actuates the latter together with the disc 40 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, of the drawings.

Latch 54 is held in the dotted-line .position shown in I shown in Fig. 5, releasing the disc 42 and accordingly,

the 'gear'44,1as"well asthe shafts'34 and 20"for rotative movement; Pawl' is held biased against-the periphery of disc '42by spring 92 'until notch 60-movesto-a point adjacent pawl-90 whereuponthe latter again engages disc 42 to hold the same against further movement in "the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. '3.

,As the latch 54 moves to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings,--it engages the cam 106 to swing the arm 3104 against the action of spring 108, whereupon the switch 98 :is opened through lateral extension 102 and :actuatingbutton 100. --Such opening of thezswitch'QS cleenergizes the :coil of *holding ,1 relay 122 (Fig. 8 which in turn releases switch-136 andzarmalsfiito deenerj gize the electromagnet 70. Finger 82 returns to the lowermost end of its path of travel as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by the action of spring 78. .After the customer. has moved the access door to the uppermost end of its path of travel, latch 54 will have moved along the slot 64 to a point within the lowermost opening 68 of the plate 32, at which time spring 62, acting on latch 54, swings the latter outwardly and out of engagement with the notch 58 of disc 42. Pawl 96 operates to hold the shafts 34 and against rotation in one direction, and the pawl 92 operates to hold such shafts against rotation clockwise, viewing Fig. 5. out of engagement with the plate 32, the access door may be closed, thereupon returning the rack 22 to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and rotating the pinion 46 as well as the disc 40, and the latch 54 back to the normal position shown in Fig. l.

During the next cycle of operation, the latch 54 en gages within the notch 60 of the disc 42.

In the event the access door is left open and remains open after insertion of a coin by a subsequent purchaser, such energization of the electromagnet 70 does not retard the return of latch 54 to its normal position. In other words, if finger 82 is at the uppermost end of its path of travel by virtue of a subsequent coin insertion, the next purchaser must, and may, re-close the door which swings the latch 54 in alignment with the opening 66. As latch 54 contacts finger 82, the latter will be swung downwardly toward the shaft 34, against the action of spring 86 on pivot 80. As soon as latch 54 aligns with opening 66, it will be forced toward the disc 42 by the finger 82, through the action of spring 86, whereupon reopening of the door will rotate shaft 20, rack 14 and index plate 48, as above described.

The above described construction contemplates the insertion of but a single coin in the machine as the purchase price of an article of merchandise to be vended thereby. In Fig. 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated a wiring diagram including parts for rendering the machine operable only upon insertion of one or more coins, it being understood however, that the arrangement of Fig. 8 is to be preferred if only a single coin is used. Lead lines 200, transformer 202, holding relay 204 having a coil 206, switch 208, movable contactor 210, stationary contacts 212 and 214, solenoid 216, switch 218, electromagnet 220 and switch 224 in Fig. 9 of the drawings, are all comparable to like parts above described and shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. In Fig. 9 however, there is additionally provided a stepping switch 226 having a rotatable contact arm 228 and a plurality of stationary contacts 230 within the path of travel of arm 228.

A stepping coil 232 and a re-set coil 234, are provided for the stepping switch 226. The coil 206 of relay 204, is connected with one of the contacts 230 depending upon the number of coins to be inserted in the machine for receiving an article of merchandise.

When the first coin is inserted, switch 224 is moved into engagement with contact 236, comparable to contact 118, to energize the stepper coil 232, through the following circuit:

From transformer 202, through line 238, switch 224, contact 236, line 240, coil 232 and lines 242 and 244, to transformer 202.

Such energization of coil 232 moves arm 228 from stationary contact 230a to contact 230b, that are connected by line 246. Upon insertion of a second coin, switch 224 is again actuated to operate coil 232, thereby moving arm 228 into engagement with stationary contact 230c. Relay coil 206 is thereupon energized as follows:

From transformer 202, through line 238, switch 224, lines 248 and 250, arm 228, contact 2300, lines 252 and 254, coil 206, line 256, switch 222, and lines 258, 260, 262 and 244, to transformer 202.

Simultaneously, reset coil 234 is energized to return As soon as latch 54 thus moves arima'e 266, coil 234 and lines 202.

arm 228 to its normal position engaging contact 230a, through the following circuit:

From transformer 202, through line 238, switch 224, lines 248, 250, arm 228, contact 2300, lines 252, 264 and 268, 262 and 244, to transformer Relay 204 is held closed after closing of switch 208, through the following circuit:'

From transformer 202, through line 238, switch 224, lines 248 and 270, switch 208, lines 272, 264 and 254, coil 206, line 256, switch 222 and lines 258, 260, 262 and 244, to transformer 202.

The remaining operation is identical with that above described and need not be repeated. While, in Fig. 9, line 252 is shown joined with contact 2300, it can now be appreciated as aforementioned, that such coupling may be changed as desired to force the customer to insert a relatively large number of coins in order to secure vending of the merchandise desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable shaft; a pair of discs on the shaft, one of the discs being rigidly secured to said shaft, the other disc being rotatable on the shaft; a latch swingable to and from a position interconnecting the discs; releasable structure engageable with said latch for swinging the latch to said position; means coupled with said other disc for rotating the discs and the shaft as a unit when the discs are interconnected;

" and a guide engageable .with the latch for holding the same in said position during rotation of the discs and the shaft after release of said structure.

2. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable shaft; a pair of discs on the shaft, one of the discs being rigidly secured to said shaft and having an opening therein, the other disc being rotatable on the shaft; a latch swingable on said other disc to and from a position within said opening for interconnecting the discs; releasable structure engageable with said latch for swinging the latch to said position; means coupled with said other disc for rotating the discs and the shaft as a unit when the discs are interconnected; and a guide engageable with the latch for holding the same in said position during rotation of the discs and the shaft after release of said structure, there being means coupled with said structure and having an element within the path of travel of said latch for engagement thereby to release said structure.

3. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable shaft; a first member rigidly mounted on the shaft and having an opening therein; a second member rotatable on the shaft; a latch mounted on the second member for rotation therewith and swingable to and from a position within the opening; an 'arcuate guide plate, said latch having a notch for receivingsaid plate when the latch is one end of its path of travel outside said opening.

4. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable having an opening therein; on the shaft; a latch mounted on the second member for rotation therewith and swingable to and from a position within the opening; an arcuate guide plate, said latch having a notch for receiving said plate when the latch is swung into said opening and the second member rotated, whereby the latch is held in the opening to interconnect the members for rotating the shaft in one direction during rotation of the second member, said first member being peripherally toothed; and a pawl normally engaging the teeth of said first member for holding the shaft against rotation in the opposite direction.

5. In a control unit for vending machines, a frame; a

shaft rotatably carried by the frame; a first member rigid- 1y mounted on the shaft; 21 second member rotatable on the shaft; 21 swingable latch on the second member; and a swingable pawl on the frame, said first member having a number of latch and pawl-receiving notches, said pawl being within the path of travel of the latch whereby the pawl is moved out of engagement with the first member as the latch engages the first member tor simultaneous rotation of the members and the shaft.

6. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable shaft; a plate having an arcuate slot; and a rotatable member having a latch thereon within the slot, said latch being swingable to and from a position interconnecting the member and the shaft, and having .a notch therein for receiving the plate when the latch is in said position and upon rotation of the member, the shaft, and the latch, whereby the latch is held in said position by the plate.

7. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable shaft; a plate having an arcuate slot; :a rotatable member having .a latch thereon within the slot, said latch being swingable to and from a position interconnecting the member and the shaft, and having a notch therein for receiving the plate when the latch is in said position and upon rotation of the member, the shaft, and the latch, whereby the latch is held in said position by the plate; and structure for swinging the latch to said position, said structure including an actuator, .a latch engaging member and resilient means interconnecting the actuator and the member for yieldably biasing the latter toward the latch when in engagement therewith.

8. In a control unit for vending machines, a rotatable shaft; a "first member rigidly mounted on :the shaft and having an opening therein; a-second member rotatable on the shaft; a latch mounted on the-second member for rotation therewith and swingable to and firom a position within the opening; and an arcuate guide plate, said latch having a notch for receiving said plate when'the latch is swung into said opening and the second member rotated, whereby the latch is held in the opening to interconnect the members for rotating the shaft in one direction dur- I ing rotation of the second "member, there being resilient means between the second member and the latch for swinging t-he lat-terout of said opening clear of said guide plate when the latch is rotated to one end of its path of travel.

References Cited in :the the of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stone Dec. 15, 1953 

